10:30am Thursday 18th March 2010
By Neil Vowles
Armed police descended on a quiet street after receiving reports of a man brandishing a gun.
Officers sealed off the cul-de-sac for several hours after residents dialled 999.
The siege in Hawthorn Close, Saltdean, lasted several hours in a bid to protect members of the public.
Dozens of officers, including Sussex Police’s armed response unit, arrived at the scene at about 3.45pm yesterday.
Police sealed off the street before detaining a man and searching a car.
No gun was found and investigations are continuing.
Officers did not leave the scene until after 6pm.
A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said last night: “Police attended following reports of a man pointing a gun near Hawthorn Close at about 3.44pm.
“Police attended and closed of the road at about 4.10pm.
“The vehicle was searched and the object which the man was using turned out to be a car jack.
“The man was detained.”
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